Completed British 19th C, except portraits 12 comments Can we date precisely this painting of the church of St Wulfram, Abbeville in France and confirm that it is by Lewis John Wood?

Photo credit: West Northamptonshire Council
This could well date from the 1850s or 1860s. It was a favourite subject. The artist exhibited at the British Institution: in 1856 (no 477) ‘Abbeville’ 20 guineas; in 1865 (no 168) ‘Abbeville Cathedral’; 1859 (no 80) West front of the Cathedral at Abbeville and (no 273) ‘St Wulfram, Abbeville Portaile de la facade principale’ and at the Royal Academy in 1859 (no 923) ‘St Wulfram, Abbeville, Picardy.
Completed, Outcome
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11 comments
For comparison:
https://bit.ly/3uZRZP9
https://bit.ly/3uVxF1w
Another for comparison (different site, but similar treatment):
https://bit.ly/3c50nV8
The current attribution is quite plausible.
This auction record shows a view in Abbeville dated 1890 (without any further detail though). https://www.artnet.com/artists/lewis-john-wood/die-kathedrale-in-abbeville-sDOAwT62nq2nIu2Umj8oIg2
Here is same view by David Roberts 1796--1864.
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/canal-scene-with-cathedral-in-background-143320
And here is another version at Eton College-
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/abbeville-316337/search/actor:roberts-david-17961864/page/3
Except of course it isn't quite the same.In both the Roberts- the Cathedral has front turrets,and in all three ,the Cathedral is at a different angle.You cannot see the front turrets in our painting here-- but the houses surrounding the canal, are basically the same.
And here is an 1871 drawing of the houses over the canal- By S Read- who may be the Samuel Read who lived in Ipswich-- So this view existed then. I think this drawing is quite accurate.
And just for interest- here are the same buildings in 1817, by Henry Edridge.
https://www.artfund.org/supporting-museums/art-weve-helped-buy/artwork/2315/buildings-at-abbeville
Similar accuracy to the S Read-- so I wonder if Roberts or Wood were actually there- or perhaps they liked a bit of impressionism????
Going by the titles of the Abbeville pictures Wood exhibited, this one would seem to fit best the "Abbeville" of 1856, since it includes the cathedral but in the background, behind the local colour of domestic architecture, whereas all other titles suggest a greater focus and emphasis on the cathedral proper.
Just for further interest. In this Wood's painting.The angles on the Cathedral indicate a position quite close to the Cathedral for drawing purposes.Match the pinacles of the flying butresses to the roof line,and the angles of the main towers. If you look at an old map of Abbeville- the canal with a bridge of houses- now gone --is some way away.
Here is current street view from where I think Wood's sketched the Cathedral. Outside 7 Rue Lefebure de Cisey.Quite close!
https://www.google.com/maps/@50.1044936,1.831118,3a,75y,36.99h,97.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8iYBi3mcUatdxEjyadJIsg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Since the cathedral has long been the chief landmark of Abbeville, it is bound to appear in a topographic view made for foreigners, either as the main focus or as a backdrop, as here. Thus, the title of simply "Abbeville" could be used for this picture, whereas the title of a picture focused on the cathedral would refer to it explicitly.
This has not attrcated much attention, but the attribution seems reasonable. Which of Wood's known images of Abbeville it is remains unknown.